Low Tide

The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them;
    He delivers them from all their troubles
(Psalm 37:14 NIV)

“Is this all there is?” That question is usually evidence of a low tide in a Christian walk.

Your sea of hope has rolled back, leaving you tired and weary. Life just grinds on and on, day after day. You feel trapped, like a barnacle clinging to a rock as the water rolls out, leaving you to the mercy of the scorching sun. Your soul is parched and dry. David, hiding out from king Saul in the desert of Judea, knew that feeling.  

You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek you; I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you, in a dry and parched land where there is no water” (Psalm 63:1 NIV).

But take heart, life-giving water will flow again. The tide may go out, but it will wash back in again.

“Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them” (John 7:38 NIV)

I love nature because it really is God’s first missionary. The world He created shouts His name and so many of the natural rhythms of nature have lessons for our spiritual lives.

"For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities--his eternal power and divine nature--have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse" (Romans 1:20 NIV).

The humble barnacle is a great example of how to survive a low tide. It secures itself to a rock with a strong adhesive glue, so it can withstand the buffeting waves of high tide.  We secure ourselves to our Rock to withstand the storms of life. The barnacle holds seawater in its closed shell to keep it from drying out during low tide. We have the Holy Spirit within us, keeping our spiritual lives watered and supplied with spiritual nutrients.

Just as there are seasons and tides in God’s creation, so are there are seasons and tides in our spiritual lives. Our joy at the arrival of spring would be lessened if we had not experienced the cold harshness of winter. The experience of a low tide increases our joy of the high tide as it rolls back in, bringing refreshment and renewal, strength, and hope.  Keep clinging to the Rock. Be assured the tide will change. Low tides do not last forever.

Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you (1 Peter 5:7 NIV)